Method and device for energy management in a complex residential environment

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for energy management in a residential system comprising electrical energy sources, an electrical energy consumer for the production of thermal energy and a means for storing thermal energy.After obtaining (200) characteristics of the electrical energy consumer, including a weather-dependent energy requirement index, obtaining (205) characteristics of the electrical energy sources including an environmental performance index and an availability index, obtaining (220) a current temperature indication and a target temperature and obtaining (225) a weather forecast, thermal energy requirements are estimated (230) based on the temperature indications and the weather forecast and a use of the electrical energy sources and the thermal energy storage means is estimated based on the characteristics of the electrical energy sources, the weather forecast and the thermal energy requirements. figure for abstract: figure 2.

Description

Title of the invention: Method and device for energy management in a complex environment of a dwelling TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The field of the invention relates to energy management in a complex environment of a home comprising several sources of electrical energy. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] It is first observed that due to the increase in the cost of energy and a need to optimize energy consumption necessary to protect the planet, the population is invited to switch from carbon-based energy to carbon-free energy and to reduce its consumption. This concerns both the housing sector and that of mobility.

[0003] Although many solutions aimed at improving energy consumption have been developed, none of them make it possible to maintain a level of comfort such as that offered by carbon-based energies while adapting to the constraints of availability and / or costs of renewable energies.

[0004] Renewable energies, including wind energy, solar energy, biomass, hydraulic energy and geothermal energy, enable the production of heat or electricity. These energies have many advantages, particularly in terms of resources or availability over time, but also disadvantages in terms of costs or immediate availability. For example, wind energy and solar energy are only available depending on weather conditions, while other renewable energies have a significant production cost that can influence their performance and therefore the benefit of their use.

[0005] There is therefore a need to improve energy management in a complex environment of a home in order to limit carbon energy consumption and reduce energy expenditure costs while providing a desired level of comfort. Statement of the invention

[0006] The present invention aims to improve the use of energy sources.

[0007] The subject of the invention is a method for managing energy in a residential system comprising a plurality of electrical energy sources, at least one electrical energy consumer intended for the production of thermal energy and at least one means for storing thermal energy, the method comprising the following steps; - obtaining characteristics of said at least one energy consumer electrical, said characteristics obtained from said at least one electrical energy consumer comprising an energy needs index, the energy needs index being dependent on weather conditions; - obtaining characteristics of each electrical energy source of said plurality of sources, said characteristics obtained from each electrical energy source comprising an environmental performance index and an availability index, the availability index of at least one of said electrical energy sources being dependent on weather conditions; - obtaining at least one current temperature indication and at least one target temperature; - obtaining weather forecasts for a location where said system is located; - estimation of thermal energy needs as a function of said obtained temperature indications and said obtained weather forecasts and estimation of a use of said electrical energy sources and said at least one thermal energy storage means, said use of said electrical energy sources and said at least one thermal energy storage means being determined as a function of each of said characteristics of each electrical energy source of said plurality of sources, said obtained weather forecasts and the estimated thermal energy needs.

[0008] The invention makes it possible in particular to optimize energy consumption as a function of a set of sources according to an estimate of consumption, production by different sources and environmental performance.

[0009] Preferred, simple, convenient and economical characteristics of the device according to the invention are presented below.

[0010] For example, according to particular embodiments, said system further comprises means for estimating the energy production of at least one of said electrical energy sources, characteristics of said at least one of said energy sources being obtained as a function of an estimate of the energy production of said at least one of said electrical energy sources.

[0011] Still according to particular embodiments, said system further comprises means for estimating the energy consumption of said at least one energy consumer, characteristics obtained from said at least one electrical energy consumer being obtained as a function of an estimate of the energy consumption of said at least one energy consumer.

[0012] Still according to particular embodiments, said system further comprises means for storing electrical energy, said use of said sources of electrical energy and said at least one means for storing thermal energy being further determined based on the electrical consumption and restitution characteristics of said electrical energy storage means.

[0013] Still according to particular embodiments, said use of said sources of electrical energy and said at least one means of storing thermal energy is determined using rules of an expert system.

[0014] Still according to particular embodiments, said use of said electrical energy sources and said at least one thermal energy storage means is determined using one or more artificial intelligence engines.

[0015] Still according to particular embodiments, said system comprises a plurality of electrical energy consumers intended for the production of thermal energy, the method further comprising an estimation of the supply of electrical energy to each electrical energy consumer of said plurality of electrical energy consumers.

[0016] Still according to particular embodiments, said estimation of supply of electrical energy to each consumer of electrical energy is estimated as a function of each of said characteristics of each source of electrical energy of said plurality of sources, of said weather forecasts obtained and of the estimated thermal energy needs and as a function of a priority profile between each consumer of electrical energy of said plurality of consumers of electrical energy.

[0017] Still according to particular embodiments, said use of said electrical energy sources and said at least one thermal energy storage means is further determined using priority rules determined by a user.

[0018] Still according to particular embodiments, the availability index of at least one of said electrical energy sources is dependent on at least one constraint imposed by an access provider to said at least one of said electrical energy sources.

[0019] Still according to particular embodiments, the environmental performance index of at least one of said electrical energy sources comprises an CSR index.

[0020] The invention also relates to a device comprising means for implementing each of the steps of the method described above. The advantages of this device are similar to those of the method. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0021] Other advantages, aims and particular characteristics of the present invention will emerge from the following non-limiting description of at least one embodiment particular of the devices, system and methods which are the subject of the present invention, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: - [Fig. 1] illustrates an example of a complex environment of a dwelling comprising a set of energy-consuming equipment, a set of energy sources and a set of equipment capable of playing the role of energy consumer and energy source, in which embodiments of the invention can be implemented; - [Fig.2] illustrates an example of steps of an energy management method according to certain embodiments of the invention; - Figure 3, comprising Figures 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d, illustrates a simplified example of heat exchanges between the interior of a house, domestic hot water, swimming pool water and outside air according to particular embodiments of the invention; and - [Fig.4] illustrates an example of a calculator capable of implementing a method according to particular embodiments of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] The inventors have observed that the variety of energy sources and their characteristics can be exploited to optimize direct or indirect energy consumption (by storage then restitution) and the associated environmental impact while providing a desired comfort (or close to it, according to a predetermined threshold).

[0023] Thus, according to embodiments of the invention, the commissioning of energy-consuming equipment is carried out according to the availability of renewable or low environmental impact energies and the costs of renewable and non-renewable energies, in a predictive manner.

[0024] [Fig.l] illustrates an example of a complex environment of a dwelling comprising a set of energy-consuming equipment, in particular electrical energy-consuming equipment intended to produce thermal energy, a set of energy sources, in particular electrical energy sources, and a set of equipment capable of playing the role of energy consumer and energy source, in which embodiments of the invention can be implemented.

[0025] As illustrated, the complex environment 100 here comprises a house provided with a heating and air conditioning system referenced 105, domestic hot water production equipment referenced 110 and a set of a solar energy source 115, here comprising a set of photovoltaic panels. The complex environment 100 also comprises a basin 120, for example a swimming pool, provided with a heat pump or a reversible heating system 125, one or more electric vehicles 130 capable of recharging at one or more charging terminals 135, as well as a source of electricity 140, for example a connection to a public electricity network. These different elements have different energy characteristics in terms of quantity of energy produced and / or consumed, in terms of production costs and / or energy consumption and in terms of time or period of production and / or energy consumption.

[0026] Thus, for example, the heating and air conditioning system 105, by default, needs energy to produce heat in the winter and produce cold in the summer. However, by producing cold to air condition a house, it produces heat that can be used for purposes other than heating the house. Similarly, the domestic hot water production equipment 110 needs to produce heat all year round, for example by using electricity, but can also provide heat from the previously heated water, at certain times of the day, when there is no need for domestic hot water. The set of photovoltaic panels can produce electricity at certain times of the day, with an amount of energy produced that varies according to the seasons and weather conditions.

[0027] Similarly, the heat pump or reversible heating system 125 of the swimming pool 120 can produce heat (while consuming energy) from the heat of the swimming pool water, it being observed that the swimming pool water can also be heated naturally by the sun or the ambient air, or, on the contrary, produce heat to heat the swimming pool. The swimming pool can thus be considered as a source of thermal energy in the long term (eg, according to the seasons) or in the short term (eg, according to the hours of the day).

[0028] Finally, the electric vehicles 135 can be considered as electrical consumers (to recharge the batteries of the vehicles), but also as sources of electrical energy, for example when the batteries are charged to provide electricity punctually at times when the vehicles are not in use.

[0029] Each element of the complex system can thus be characterized by data on power consumed, power produced, power available, environmental impact of production, environmental impact of operation, production costs, operating costs, hours and / or periods of energy production, hours and / or periods of energy consumption, usage constraints (for example imposed by an energy supplier, such as a maximum available power), etc. In addition, some of the data can be obtained according to several hypotheses, for example according to several meteorological situations.

[0030] These data can be synthesized in tables, for example in an energy production table and in a predictive energy consumption table.

[0031] By way of illustration, an energy production table may be a predictive table of consumption, environmental impact and cost of energy, hour by hour, by period of the year, over a sliding week, with for example levels of environmental impact or tariff depending on the quantity of energy available, ranging from 0 to 100% of the maximum possible power of the site, with as input data: - the characteristics of the environmental impact (eg, CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) indices such as greenhouse gas emissions and proximity to energy sources) and the characteristics of the contract(s) with energy suppliers, - the presence of existing energy production equipment and - the prediction of potential energy production according to the forecast of weather conditions of the place in question, and with as output data, the environmental impact and the predicted cost of energy, hour by hour, by period of the year, for each power band. Of course, other parameters can be used, in addition to or instead of those mentioned above. In addition, some of the above parameters can be ignored.

[0032] Still by way of illustration, the predictive table of energy needs, hour by hour, by period of the year, over a sliding week, can have the following data as inputs: - the characteristics of energy consumers, - energy consumption assumptions, based on weather forecasts for the location in question, - the choice of the desired level of comfort (in the premises, the swimming pool, etc.), - the need and availability slots for recharging equipment mobility such as electric vehicles and - energy storage capacities and their existing form.

[0033] Again, other parameters may be used, in addition to or instead of the above. Similarly, some of the above parameters may be ignored.

[0034] Predictive tables of energy needs can also be associated with profiles, for example profiles linked to an economic mode or a comfort mode, profiles linked to a mode of use during holiday periods or during working periods, etc.

[0035] Furthermore, the system illustrated in [Fig.l] comprises measuring means, for example sensors, for determining environmental parameters, for example temperatures (inside the house, outside, in the swimming pool, etc.) as well as parameters specific to certain elements of the system, for example the quantity of energy produced by certain elements, the quantity of energy produced by certain elements, different or not, etc.

[0036] Based on this predictive information, an algorithm using or not using one or more artificial intelligence engines, determines and manages the distribution of energy to the various consumers present in such a way that minimum comfort is always achieved (according to a predetermined threshold) while limiting the environmental impact and, preferably, optimizing the cost of energy. The latter can be available in real time to the user.

[0037] Thus, embodiments of the invention make it possible to - manage the partial or total storage of energy, - manage the partial or total direct use of the available energy, - anticipate or postpone the commissioning of energy consumers, - manage a partial supply of energy to energy consumers, while ensuring minimal energy comfort, limiting the environmental impact, optimizing energy consumption and reducing costs.

[0038] In addition, rules may be implemented, for example, when a goal cannot be achieved due to insufficient energy resources at a given environmental impact or at a given cost. Such rules may, for example, give priority to heating a house, then to producing domestic hot water and finally to the swimming pool, or give priority to heating a house, then to the swimming pool and finally to producing domestic hot water, or any other order or combination.

[0039] Still by way of illustration, a rule may target the charging power allocated to a charging station of an electric vehicle: for example, the charging power indicated at the charging station is calculated in real time in relation to the availability of renewable energy from photovoltaic panels and when a charge percentage is reached, the locally produced electrical energy is supplied to another consumer.

[0040] As a further illustration, the free electrical energy produced by photovoltaic panels can, in whole or in part, be stored in thermal form in a swimming pool or a storage tank for later use, using a heat pump, for example when the electrical production of the photovoltaic panels ceases or when energy needs are maximum.

[0041] It is further observed that a quantity of electrical energy can be stored in the form of thermal energy, in particular depending on the cost of converting the electrical energy into thermal energy, for later use. This cost is for example linked to an air or water temperature when the conversion is carried out by a heat pump. Depending on current and forecast weather conditions and Depending on current and anticipated thermal energy needs, electrical energy from a source may be used directly, by conversion into thermal energy and use, or indirectly, by conversion into thermal energy, storage of the obtained thermal energy and subsequent release of the stored thermal energy. Such a mechanism may be implemented in a system comprising one or more electrical energy sources.

[0042] [Fig.2] illustrates an example of steps of an energy management method according to certain embodiments of the invention.

[0043] As illustrated, a first step here aims to obtain characteristics of the energy consumers present in the system considered (step 200). As described previously, these energy consumers, comprising electrical energy consumers, may comprise one or more heat or cold production elements for a house, one or more heat production elements for domestic hot water, one or more heat production elements for a swimming pool, one or more load elements, for example for electric vehicles, one or more heat exchange elements, for example of a heat pump, etc.

[0044] The characteristics obtained are, for example, powers consumed as a function of the time of day, the period, the weather conditions, a desired level of comfort, periods of unavailability (eg, for a charging station, the vehicle must not be used), energy storage capacities, an environmental impact, etc.

[0045] Similarly, characteristics of energy sources present in the system considered are obtained (step 205).

[0046] The characteristics of the energy consumers and the energy sources are obtained one after the other or in parallel. As described above, the energy sources may comprise one or more electrical sources, for example photovoltaic panels, an electricity supply from an electrical distribution network, electrical batteries, for example batteries of one or more vehicles, etc. They may also comprise thermal sources (hot or cold) such as boilers, heat pumps (for example air / water or water / water), etc., which may further behave as energy consumers.

[0047] As with the characteristics of the energy consumers, the characteristics obtained from the energy sources are for example powers produced as a function of the time of day, the period, the weather conditions, an associated environmental impact, an associated cost, periods of unavailability (eg, for a charging station, the vehicle must not be used), energy storage capacities, available power (for example according to constraints of an energy supplier), etc.

[0048] These characteristics are stored, for example in the form of tables, for example a predictive table of consumption, environmental impact and energy cost and a predictive table of energy availability (step 210). These tables are for example stored in a database 215, local or remote (i.e., accessible via a communication network).

[0049] In a following step, environmental parameters and setpoints are obtained (step 220). The environmental parameters are, for example, temperatures in certain rooms of the house, the outside temperature, the temperature of the water in a pool, the temperature of the water in a domestic hot water production system, etc. These parameters may also include information on the production or consumption of energy by elements of the system in question, for example the electrical power produced by photovoltaic panels and the power consumed by a charging station. The setpoints obtained are, for example, target temperatures for certain rooms of the house, the water in a pool, the water in a domestic hot water production system, etc. These setpoints are fixed or variable, for example depending on the time of day, the day of the week, etc.

[0050] In a next step, the weather forecasts for the location where the system under consideration is located are obtained (step 225). By way of illustration, such forecasts include, for example, the temperatures forecast hour by hour in the next three days, solar radiation, wind direction and strength.

[0051] Knowing the environment, the characteristics of the energy consumers, the characteristics of the energy sources and the weather forecasts, the use of the energy sources and the energy consumers can be estimated to wait for the instructions (or approach them), by optimizing the use of energy, in particular by favoring renewable energies to the detriment of carbon energies, that is to say by reducing the environmental impact, and by reducing the costs of the energy consumed (step 230). This estimation can be carried out using rules, for example rules of an expert system, which can be stored in a database 235, local or remote, and / or one or more artificial intelligence engines.

[0052] The energy consumers and energy sources are then controlled according to the estimated usage (step 240).

[0053] According to particular embodiments, a history of the measured data is stored (step 245) in a database 250, local or remote, to allow, for example, the learning of one or more artificial intelligence engines, for example models based on neural networks. After learning, This or these artificial intelligence engines can be used to optimize the use of energy consumers

[0054] Figures 3a to 3d illustrate a simplified example of heat exchanges between the indoor air of a house (reference 300), domestic hot water (reference 305), the water of a swimming pool (reference 310) and the outdoor air (reference 315). These heat exchanges can in particular be carried out using air / water and / or water / water heat pumps, generally referenced 320, which consume electrical energy. In these figures, the arrows in thin lines represent a transfer of cold and the arrows in thick lines represent a transfer of heat.

[0055] [Fig.3a] concerns heat exchanges at a period which may correspond to the months of May and September. As illustrated, calories are taken from the outside air (i.e., cold air is discharged outside) to heat the domestic hot water and / or the swimming pool water. Depending on the weather conditions, the calories taken from the outside air can also be used to heat the air in rooms of the house or, on the contrary, calories can be taken from the house (i.e., cold air is discharged into the house to air-condition it) to heat the domestic hot water and / or the swimming pool water.

[0056] [Fig.3b] aims at heat exchanges at a period which could correspond to the month of June. According to this example, calories are taken from the outside air (i.e., cold air is rejected outside) and from the air of the house (i.e., cold air is rejected into the house to air-condition it) to heat the domestic hot water and, depending on the weather conditions, the water of the swimming pool. If it is particularly hot, calories can be taken from the water of the swimming pool, for example at night after it has heated during the day, to heat the domestic hot water.

[0057] [Fig.3c] concerns heat exchanges at a period which may correspond to the months of July and August. According to this example, calories are taken from the air of the house (i.e., cold air is discharged into the house to air-condition it) and from the water of the swimming pool, for example at night after it has heated during the day, to heat the domestic hot water. Depending on the weather conditions, calories can be taken from the outside air (i.e., cold air is discharged outside) to heat the domestic hot water or calories can be taken from the air of the house (i.e., cold air is discharged into the house to air-condition it) and discharged into the outside air.

[0058] [Fig.3d] aims at heat exchanges at a period which may correspond to the winter months. As illustrated here, calories are taken from the outside air (i.e., cold air is rejected outside) to heat rooms in the house and / or domestic hot water. Depending on the weather conditions, calories may be taken from the pool water, for example at night after it has heated during the day, to heat rooms in the house and / or domestic hot water.

[0059] A fine granulometry makes it possible to optimize energy transfers to limit energy consumption, for example by using at night the energy accumulated by a swimming pool during the day in the form of heat, to use at night the electrical energy accumulated in an electric car charged during the day when photovoltaic panels produce electrical energy, etc. Estimating the electrical energy needs to achieve the envisaged thermal transfers makes it possible to optimize the latter by limiting the overall energy consumption and the environmental impact.

[0060] [Fig.4] illustrates an example of a calculator capable of implementing a method according to particular embodiments of the invention, in particular the method illustrated in [Fig.2]. The calculator 400 is for example a PC type computer (acronym for personal computer in English terminology).

[0061] As illustrated, the computer 400 comprises a power supply 425 providing the electrical energy necessary for the components of the computer 400. It further comprises one or more communication buses, shared or not, to which are connected: - a central processing unit or microprocessor 405 (CPU, acronym for central processing unit in English terminology) further comprising, preferably, one or more coprocessors, for example of the GPU type (acronym for graphical processing unit in English terminology), making it possible to accelerate calculations (for example by parallelizing them), in particular calculations of an artificial intelligence engine; - a random access memory or cache memory 410 (RAM, acronym for random access memory in English terminology) comprising registers adapted to record variables and parameters created and modified during the execution of the programs implementing the steps described previously; - a read-only memory 415 (ROM, acronym for read only memory in English terminology) which may contain an operating system and programs implementing the steps described above; - a storage medium 420, fixed or removable, which may in particular include rules used by the expert system and / or which may be used to store results from the artificial intelligence engine(s) and / or the expert system; - an input interface 430 for selectively receiving data from sensors; and - an output interface 435 for controlling one or more actuators. The input and output interfaces may or may not be separate. For example, this may be a standard input / output interface.

[0062] The computer 400 further comprises, preferably, a communication interface 440 connected to a communication network, for example a wireless communication network and / or a local communication network, the interface being capable of transmitting and receiving data, in particular to or from another of the servers, computers, tablets and / or smartphones.

[0063] Optionally, the computer 400 may also have a display 445, in particular a touch-sensitive display allowing a user to interact with programs implemented by the computer 400, and input means such as a keyboard and / or a mouse allowing a user to interact with programs implemented by the computer 400.

[0064] The communication bus allows communication and interoperability between the different elements included in the computer 400 or connected to it. The representation of the bus is not limiting and, in particular, the central processing unit is capable of communicating instructions to any element of the computer 400 directly or via another element of the computer 400.

[0065] The executable code of the programs allowing the computer 400 to implement, in whole or in part, the method according to the invention, can be stored, for example, in the read-only memory 415. According to a variant, the executable code of the programs can be received via the communication network, via the interface 440, to be stored in a manner identical to that described previously. More generally, the program(s) can be loaded into one of the storage means of the computer 400 before being executed.

[0066] The central processing unit 405 will control and direct the execution of the instructions or portions of software code of the program(s) according to the invention, instructions which are stored, for example, in the read-only memory 415 or in the other aforementioned storage elements. When the power is switched on, the program(s) which are stored in a non-volatile memory, for example the read-only memory 415, are transferred into the random access memory 410 which then contains the executable code of the program(s), as well as registers for storing the variables and parameters necessary for implementing the method according to the invention.

[0067] The calculator 400 can be installed near a swimming pool or remotely, for example in a third-party installation responsible for maintaining the swimming pool. It can also be split into several elements, some of which can be installed near the swimming pool and others remotely. Similarly, part of the processing and / or calculations can be carried out in or near the sensors. By way of illustration, recognition of people can be carried out in a camera, the information being transmitted in addition to or instead of images to a swimming pool control system. Still by way of illustration, the artificial intelligence module can be implemented works remotely and the expert system can be implemented locally.

[0068] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above as examples. It extends to other variants.

[0069] Depending on the embodiment selected, certain acts, actions, events, or functions of each of the methods described herein may be performed or occur in a different order than they were described, or may be added, merged, or not performed or not occur, as the case may be. In addition, in some embodiments, certain acts, actions, or events are performed or occur concurrently and not successively.

[0070] Although described through a number of detailed exemplary embodiments, the proposed device, system and method include various variations, modifications and improvements which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, it being understood that these various variations, modifications and improvements are within the scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims. In addition, different aspects and features described above may be implemented together, or separately, or substituted for each other, and all of the various combinations and sub-combinations of the aspects and features are within the scope of the invention. Furthermore, some systems and equipment described above may not incorporate all of the modules and functions described for the preferred embodiments.

Claims

Claims

1. A method of energy management in a residential system comprising a plurality of electrical energy sources, at least one electrical energy consumer for the production of thermal energy and at least one thermal energy storage means, the method comprising the following steps; obtaining (200) characteristics of said at least one electrical energy consumer, said characteristics obtained from said at least one electrical energy consumer comprising an energy needs index, the energy needs index being dependent on weather conditions; obtaining (205) characteristics of each electrical energy source of said plurality of sources, said characteristics obtained from each electrical energy source comprising an environmental performance index and an availability index, the availability index of at least one of said electrical energy sources being dependent on weather conditions; obtaining (220) at least one current temperature indication and at least one target temperature; obtaining (225) weather forecasts of a location where said system is located; estimating (230) thermal energy needs based on said obtained temperature indications and said obtained weather forecasts and estimating a use of said electrical energy sources and said at least one thermal energy storage means, said use of said electrical energy sources and said at least one thermal energy storage means being determined based on each of said characteristics of each electrical energy source of said plurality of sources, said obtained weather forecasts and the estimated thermal energy needs.

2. Method according to claim 1, according to which said system further comprises means for estimating energy production of at least one of said electrical energy sources, characteristics of said at least one of said energy sources being obtained as a function of an estimate of energy production of said at least one of said electrical energy sources.

3. Method according to claim 1 or claim 2, according to which said system further comprises means for estimating energy consumption of said at least one energy consumer, characteristics obtained from said at least one electrical energy consumer being obtained as a function of an estimate of energy consumption of said at least one energy consumer.

4. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said system further comprises electrical energy storage means, said use of said electrical energy sources and said at least one thermal energy storage means being further determined as a function of electrical consumption and restitution characteristics of said electrical energy storage means.

5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said use of said electrical energy sources and said at least one thermal energy storage means is determined using rules of an expert system.

6. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said use of said electrical energy sources and said at least one thermal energy storage means is determined using one or more artificial intelligence engines.

7. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said system comprises a plurality of electrical energy consumers for the production of thermal energy, the method further comprising an estimation of supply of electrical energy to each electrical energy consumer of said plurality of electrical energy consumers.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said estimation of electrical energy supply to each electrical energy consumer is estimated based on each of said characteristics of each electrical energy source of said plurality of sources, said obtained weather forecasts and estimated thermal energy needs and based on a priority profile between each electrical energy consumer of said plurality of electrical energy consumers.

9. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said use of said electrical energy sources and said at least one thermal energy storage means is further determined using priority rules determined by a user.

10. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, according to which the availability index of at least one of said sources of electrical energy is dependent on at least one constraint imposed by an access provider to said at least one of said sources of electrical energy.

11. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the environmental performance index of at least one of said electrical energy sources comprises a CSR index.

12. Device comprising means for implementing each of the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

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